Aesop's Fables; a new translation eBook

A Lion and an Ass set up as partners and went a-hunting
together. In course of time they came to a cave
in which there were a number of wild goats. The
Lion took up his stand at the mouth of the cave, and
waited for them to come out; while the Ass went inside
and brayed for all he was worth in order to frighten
them out into the open. The Lion struck them
down one by one as they appeared; and when the cave
was empty the Ass came out and said, “Well,
I scared them pretty well, didn’t I?”
“I should think you did,” said the Lion:
“why, if I hadn’t known you were an Ass,
I should have turned and run myself.”

THE PROPHET

A Prophet sat in the market-place and told the fortunes
of all who cared to engage his services. Suddenly
there came running up one who told him that his house
had been broken into by thieves, and that they had
made off with everything they could lay hands on.
He was up in a moment, and rushed off, tearing his
hair and calling down curses on the miscreants.
The bystanders were much amused, and one of them said,
“Our friend professes to know what is going to
happen to others, but it seems he’s not clever
enough to perceive what’s in store for himself.”

THE HOUND AND THE HARE

A young Hound started a Hare, and, when he caught
her up, would at one moment snap at her with his teeth
as though he were about to kill her, while at another
he would let go his hold and frisk about her, as if
he were playing with another dog. At last the
Hare said, “I wish you would show yourself in
your true colours! If you are my friend, why do
you bite me? If you are my enemy, why do you play
with me?”

He is no friend who plays
double.

THE LION, THE MOUSE, AND THE FOX

A Lion was lying asleep at the mouth of his den when
a Mouse ran over his back and tickled him so that
he woke up with a start and began looking about everywhere
to see what it was that had disturbed him. A
Fox, who was looking on, thought he would have a joke
at the expense of the Lion; so he said, “Well,
this is the first time I’ve seen a Lion afraid
of a Mouse.” “Afraid of a Mouse?”
said the Lion testily: “not I! It’s
his bad manners I can’t stand.”

THE TRUMPETER TAKEN PRISONER

A Trumpeter marched into battle in the van of the
army and put courage into his comrades by his warlike
tunes. Being captured by the enemy, he begged
for his life, and said, “Do not put me to death;
I have killed no one: indeed, I have no weapons,
but carry with me only my trumpet here.”
But his captors replied, “That is only the more
reason why we should take your life; for, though you
do not fight yourself, you stir up others to do so.”